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England Don't Need Manchester United's Rooney And Other Lessons From Day 12 Of The Euros
England can get results without the Manchester United Striker, France struggle without Cabaye, Why Ibrahimovic is world class and all the other action from Day 12.
England can get results without the Manchester United Striker, France struggle without Cabaye, Why Ibrahimovic is world class and all the other action from Day 12.
England Are Not Entertainers
It’s easy to forget just how drab the Sweden game was prior to the requirement to score some goals. Prior to that the France game had also been a snooze-fest. Indeed, Hodgson’s short tenure seems to have turned England into the vintage Arsenal, just not quite as defensively astute nor as good at keeping possession. There is no doubt that the Ukraine were the much better side against England and in the first half especially their passing and movement eclipsed anything put together by the England stars.
It’s hard to know exactly why this might be. Perhaps the insistence on playing Parker in such a subdued midfield role has choked what little creativity there was in midfield to death. Maybe persisting in playing strikers that simply can’t hold the ball up is a factor. Regardless, England looked anything but assured on the ball and the brand of football they are looking to play at the moment would be more fitting from a nation that lacks the players at England’s disposal.
Still, it has proven to be effective, largely thanks to the efforts of the England back line who, with the exception of Glen Johnson, have looked solid. Effective football that yields result, built on a bedrock of solid defensive work? It might be winning football against the minnows but there’s bigger fish in the pond at a European Championships.
England Do Not Need Rooney
Hodgson’s constant hype about our supposedly talismanic player has started to grate twelve days in. Today he compared him to Pele – quite a claim for a player who hadn’t scored in an international tournament for eight years prior to his unspectacular tap in against the Ukraine. It ignores the fact that there’s a reason we couldn’t select him in the first place, that once again he had got himself sent off needless through his petulance. It even overlooks even the statistical evidence that shows England have a higher win rate without him.
One notable first touch was so bad it turned into a backheel that played the ball about ten yards away from where he first made contact.
The way Hodgson talked him up I’d have expected something incredible. Instead what we got was someone who looked out of shape, overweight – his body shape tends to fluctuate about as much as Ricky Hatton’s – and lacking any of the qualities of an international footballer, let alone one in the same league as Pele.
Missing a sitter in the first half, seemingly because he was worried that a firm header might unstitch his hair transplant, his all round passing was also absolutely criminal. One notable first touch was so bad it turned into a backheel that played the ball about ten yards away from where he first made contact. And for a player that is supposed to be one capable of unlocking defences when played clean through with only one defender near him, he managed to run so slowly that by the time he’d lost the ball the whole Ukrainian team were back in the box.
History will show he scored a goal, a goal that took two deflections and was palmed to him by the worst keeper in the tournament, that put England top of their group. Anyone watching the video evidence will know that in reality starting someone else might have yielded better results.
No Matter How Many Assistant Referees You Have, Goal Line Technology Is Required
The Ukraine can feel aggrieved for sure. More possession, more chances, more shots on target and a perfectly good goal disallowed. The commentators on ITV may have tried to make out it was some form of cosmic justice for Lampard’s disallowed goal, as if the Germans, the Ukrainians and the referees were all out to get good old England.
We have the technology, time to use it. The only difference is that it’s not English voices that will be shouting the loudest.
In reality it’s just a bad decision and had it been given you have to wonder how England would have reacted. Would we have seen more of the Swedish “heroics” or would they have capitulated? We’ll never know and it’s Ukraine that suffer, earning nothing for their endeavours and denied the opportunity to finish their campaign with a little bit of pride having got a result against one of the bigger nations they would face.
How it was missed is in itself incredible. An assistant referee so close to it and yet still uncertain to give it as a lunging John Terry created a credible deception, sewing enough doubt into the mind of all concerned not to award the goal. It may well create a talking point, it may well add some drama but doesn’t it just boil down to tolerated ineptitude? We have the technology, time to use it. The only difference is that it’s not English voices that will be shouting the loudest.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Is The Greatest Swedish Player Of All Time
The Swedish campaign was cut short by a series of defensive errors, unlikely goalscorers and bizarre deflections. You’d have to conclude that because the team that nearly upset the apple cart against England, humbled France and looked arguably like the side that should be going through to the quarter-finals. Of course, at the spearhead of their attack was Zlatan Imbrahimovic, a player that has looked incredible every time he has touched the ball this tournament.
That might come as no surprise to some of you but while he might be unstoppable in Pro Evo, I’ve never really known what to make of him at club level. He always seemed to me patchy and inconsistent, playing for big clubs for short periods for reasons that always suggested he wasn’t the real deal. And yet the player I have witnessed tear apart defences and score great goals is without doubt the best thing Sweden have ever produced in footballing terms.
Of course, at the spearhead of their attack was Zlatan Imbrahimovic, a player that has looked incredible every time he has touched the ball this tournament.
His volley was the finish of a true master and while Rooney was huffing and puffing in Donetsk, Zlatan was leading his team to a memorable victory. It could have been a lot more than 2-0 and they celebrated like it meant something at the final whistle. The big centre-forward got a standing ovation and was warmly embraced by his players. Indeed, his contribution has been world class and it’s a shame we’re not going to see more of him this tournament.
France Without Cabaye Will Struggle
Whether he was left out of the team for tactical reasons or just to rest France looked a very different prospect in midfield. Diarra was still snapping at heels as fiercely as ever and Nasri was content to dribble but without a composed figure to put his foot on the ball they looked sorely lacking when it came to mounting attacks. The Newcastle midfielder has exceeded expectations and has become instrumental to the French side and in his absence they crashed to their first defeat in 24 games.
The defeat couldn’t be solely attributed to his absences – for starters people are finally starting to realise that Mexes is absolutely dreadful and will fold under the slightest bit of pressure – but he certainly felt like the missing part of the jigsaw as France failed to play the sort of possession game that they managed against England and the Ukraine.
The real acid test for Cabaye to show his worth will be coming against Spain, where the relatively inexperienced player will have to battler against the likes of Iniesta, Xavi and Fabregas. A tall order for sure but if he can shut them down and play the game that he has so far, he could be the one to keep an eye on in the next fixture.
France Might Have Got Lucky Dodging Italy
While Italy seem to be slowly getting better as the tournament has gone by, Spain haven’t seemed that impressive outside of their embarrassingly easy game against the Republic of Ireland. In truth Croatia should have knocked them out of the competition, spurning some easy chances that were far better than anything Spain created before their late winner as Croatia pushed.
Spain have instead looked wasteful and at times indolent.
France have been inconsistent, average against England, dominant against the Ukraine and woeful against Sweden. Clearly they will need a lift and where Italy are looking like having players who will start to find their clinical edge – Di Natale, Cassano and Ballotelli all starting to look sharp – Spain have instead looked wasteful and at times indolent.
A confidence team comprised of egos bigger than their respective talents France will need a good start if they are to settle and they are more likely to get that against Spain than they are against Italy. A few thwarted attacks and some good moves of their own and they might just believe they can win the tie. They don’t realise it yet though – the sombre mood when they realised they had got Spain in the next round was more in keeping with a side that had crashed out of the competition altogether.
Neither side have been impressive or lived up to what their squad should be able to do so far and while it’s doubtless Spain have much better players at their disposal, that means little if they continue to play in the manner they have. France might have just dodged a bullet without even realising it.
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COMMENTS
Such a bitter writer. Truth is, Rooney hasn't played a game in 5 weeks and, in his first game back, he scores a goal that wins the game and puts England through to the next round as group winners. Not to shabby I'd say. Ok, he didn't have a great game and his touch was a bit rusty and at times poor, but he was central to almost all of England's counter attacking moves which were almost non-existent in the previous 2 games. As for for you cheap swipe at Glen Johnson, I think that's a bit harsh. I'm not a great fan of him and he would have never been my first pick as right back but in this tournament he's been as solid as the rest of the back four. Cheer up you miserable old man.
Wow is the author bitter and blind. The fact of the matter is that the 'disallowed' goal (or pefectly good goal disallowed as you put it) was offside!! You might want to actually watch the whole game and not just highlights in future. Proof in this youtube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJnLSVYY8XI
Agree with Dom and millions of others this 'disallowed' goal bollocks is, well, bollocks - matey boy was offside - end of debate. Sure, goal line tech is long overdue but linesman need to be better, else we replace them too. Also, i've never seen "Ibrraaa!" perform at the fabled, mystical level on which he supposedly exists - massively overrated. Much like our Wayne.
May the writer give me 5 players who are better than Rooney. Rooney out of shape??? because he had one bad day but with a goal??? Please stop hating.
This author is a joke!! How can you even say that England are better off without Wayne Rooney...agree with Duncan..Wazza had only played 37 mins of footie in 37 days so how on earth you can expect him to be a full throttle is a joke! - ever heard of a thing called form...rooney is obviously going to be a bit rusty!! and yes answer Mr Evans.M! - wazza had a great season with Utd so why would you not want a player like him in the squad...lighten up you old pathetic man!
This article is quite ridiculous. Really do not think you should be writing articles when you know nothing about football. To say that England are better off without Rooney is like saying Barcelona are better off without Messi or Real Madrid are better off without Cristiano Ronaldo. This season he was probably the second best player behind Robin Van Persie and you would not want him in the squad. I guess you'd rather have someone much better..oh wait I can't think of anyone..can you?
the writer needs to take a break!! one diarra looked poor seen as he does not play alot of games along with ltd time at madrid, and how is cabaye not playing the reason france lost??!!! imbrahmovic is poor i see him the better version of berbatov you see one goal and now he is the best! if rooney is so bad then why did no1 else score? glen for me has been playing well did ribery get passed him in the first game? not that i can remember! croatia should of beat spain ? how when they did not take there chances? ireland again did not take chances and if spain win who will remember how they played no one!!! i think i speak along with everyone here you dont have a clue i just did better than you!!!!
MR ALTA RICA..how can you say Wazza is overrated..ok he's not performed for England but then neither has Messi for his country..isn't Messi therefore overrated by your stupid standards!!
Your a complete knobhead who doesn't have a fukin clue what your talking about. First learn what football is before writing about it twat! Absolute cunt! Go Wank in a sock!
MR ALTA RICA IS GAY.. how can anyone take you seriously with your homophobic slur? Such intellect! I cower at your clear superiority. Tell me, did Mensa ever get back to you? Look, I can say Wayne rooney is overrated because its called an opinion. Much like Ibrahimovic being overrated because, well, simply, he is! "wazza" is touted as some sort of be-all and end-all of English football. He isnt. Everything has been about Rooney's 'comeback' his return to the squad, the same squad that did OK without him. Wayne Rooney is not world class, not the same league as Ronaldo or Messi, so no i would not class Messi as overrated. Rooney's probably one of the best English players of recent times, but that doesn't say much about the rest of our players tbh. Sure, he plays well in a United shirt, but he needs to do an awful lot more in an England one for me to join in the praise (or 'Rooney bumming' as you might understand it). I think i'll wait until his goals per game ratio is, at the very least, better than Crouchy's. Although he is tied for the most red cards - no doubt more on the way, so he will achieve that title too
'England dont need Rooney' is a bit dramatic - he didnt look amazing last night and it wouldnt surprise me if he remained that way. It'd take some balls to start Carrol over him though. I think it's a bit all over the place to say if you prefer to play Spain or Italy, France look like theyre on for a hiding. One thing that is annoying me now though is people moaning about the extra officials, I think UEFA need to make a statement about what their role is. Apparently they are there should the referee think the decision is contentious, and then they make a subtle gesture - which would explain their appearance of doing nothing.
Haha this article is a joke Wayne Rooney is England's best player and if they have any chance of beating italy, England will Need him to be on the field
Lmao bitter peace of crap. Rooney is England's best player whether you like it or not :)
Richard Lewis you should walk out the door give yourself a slap and start writing Adrian Chiles gags as this article is a joke. Rooney is England's best player fact. Ukraine had home advantage loads of possession but didn't create a great deal.England had 5 shots on target as did Ukraine if you want to count numerous long range shots that nearly went out for throw ins then you really do need to change your job. Referring to Ibrahimovic being the best Swedish player of time that's your best one yet. He's the captain of the club with no leader skills what so ever. He sulks and believes he is far superior than his team mates and tells them. Is that how you treat the people who make you what you are? In fact Sweden had a better win ratio without him playing. If your going to write about football please write something worth reading.
this article is written by someone who clearly knows nothing about the game of football, quite likely one of those ridiculous "every 2 years" football experts who can't be bothered watching the sport at any other time. Firstly, Wayne Rooney has not played a match for 5 weeks and is slightly off the pace. He'll get back to it, as he always does sooner or later with a bit more game time and i'm sure he'll be better in the next game. But nevertheless, it takes a decent striker to be in the right place at the right time and Rooney was, and scored. How many poached goalline tap ins have all the great strikers got on their list? Shearer? To speak in this way about a player such as Rooney's calibre and judging him on how well he plays with Roy Hodgson's Smash and Run football is ridiculous. Watch football all year round before you start writing on the sport, you're embarrassing. Ans on another note, what has Ibrahimovic done to impress you so much other than a couple of decent games in this tournament in a team that base their whole game around him? Is this the same man who was shocking in both legs against united in the champions league? the same man who couldnt score even in the same team as Messi, Xavi and Iniesta? Don't be ridiculous! There's another swedish player who turned Sweden into a consistent force in international football, won countless trophies in Scotland and then answered the critics who claimed Scottish football was easy by joining Barca and winning the Champs League and bossing Arsenal in the final, then coming to United on loan and playing his hand in them winning the Premier League. His name is Henrik Larsson and Ibra isn't fit to clean his boots. This article was shocking from start to finish. Sensationalism to make up for a lack of knowledge of the game. as i said, embarrassing.
What an awful article. I was no glen johnson fan before the euros but he has been outstanding. he has been the last defender left who has made vital clearances. The group would look a whole lot different if he hadn't intervened. rooney played poorly, i was expecting more. But to be so critical is unjust. Its his first game in 5 weeks. england have seen sense and are playing to their strengths. Expect to see much more exciting football by them in the knockout stages. Ukraine beat sweden who we struggled to beat and sweden beat france! Why we would be flooding forward i dont know. 1-0 is the perfect scoreline for what we needed that game. And one more thing, the writer of this is fool who must have always been the last picked when he played any football with english.
Ok first I agree Rooney and his stardom has gone to his head, but when he's at his top which he may be after getting some footy in he's the best offensive striker we have, rubbish article, if Roy was smart he would start 3 united players in young,wellbeck,Rooney, up front with theo on the right, but to say England doesn't need one of the most world class PASSERS AND SCORER, plus the chemistry from the 2 other teammates up front with him is rubbish to doubt what they are capable of, Roy is the reason for nap time games, he plays too defensively minded and without Rooney ur counting on Andy what a joke must be a Liverpool fan at heart writter no other reason to hate on wazza who won us the group, even in poor form Rooney makes space for other attacks can,pass on a dime, and blast in the net at any given time stupid article garrard himself said Rooney is world class and brings the squad the dimension they need, I trust performance which of course wasn't his best game and other world class players over some idiot writing rubbish reports behind a computer at a desk what a joke, hope wazza shoves goal after goal down ur throat for these remarks
Richard your a wanker.. obviously you don't like rooney or england for that matter... Why don't you support your country instead of bitch and moan! fucking cock head.. btw.. your ugly..
The writer seems to be a big LIVERPOOL fan or just hates england! I dont know why is he blaming Rooney so much? Scoring a goal afetr 8 years in an international tournament? Ok. So Andy Carrol have scored 20 Goals? How many such tournaments takes place regularly.. Its easy to lament anyone, but difficult to understand.. And Football the game is not only about Strikers.. Its a team game.. Rooney not scoring a goal in 8 years (writer's assumption) is not failing of a striker but the team. And the goal he scored was a sitter, you should have praised Stevie Gerrard for that beautiful assist rather than criticizing Rooney for heading the ball in the open net. Think from the optimistic view my friend, your articles will improve. And for the hype around Rooney. He justified it, as he was the only scorer of the match not to forget the superb assist by Gerrard.. And my friend, winning this match only helped England. As they wud have been pitted against Spain! But for that goal, they face Italy. Which can be overcome more easily than spain. Better chance for England to progress...
and judging Rooney by saying he "hasnt scored in 8 years" is a joke. In both the 2006 and 2010 world cups, Rooney was rushed back from injuries too soon and wasnt up to scratch both times. England didn't qualify for the Euros in 2008. You're judging him on half a dozen games after not properly recovering from a serious injury. ridiculous.
Easy now. Hodgson brought 5 Liverpool players to play at EURO 2012, but once there he came to his senses and realize they are mostly crap except for 1 or 2 of them. He had been brainwashed while at Liverpool, but once he has all the England players together, he could see his mistakes. That's why he's not playing them. Get over that! You don't have to take that out on Rooney!
All you Rooney loving muppets did you watch last nights shower? Rooney world class my arse! The worse and most over rated player to don an England shirt since Francis Jeffers.
Inwoywetrust i couldnt agree more. I cant stand the isolidation. He's the only player that cant be subbed for an under-par performance. We need to face it, he's no longer the wonderboy he was and he cant replicate his club form for his country. shame really. Time to invest time in small named players who might be crap on paper but who can ACTUALLY PLAY TOGETHER AS A TEAM
*idolisation. clearly i cant stand correct spelling either
Alta Rica what do people expect from Mr Rooney when he's on the piss till 3 in the morning just weeks before a major tournament and smokes like a chimney (allegedly). Wayne Rooney ever the consummate professional!
I think the statistic which shows that England ARE better off without Rooney (you know, the fact that they win more games when he doesn't play) kind of backs up the writers point. He was shit against Italy, too. Wayne Rooney; he peeked at 18 and now he's a piece of shit.
He was good in 2004 euros and now HES DOGSHIT
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